Interface Unit for Segment Assignment in Data Management

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Solution Overview

Problem

In inventory-oriented software solutions, reliable data maintenance and assignment between business objects and segments are often inefficient due to the need for manual updates and lack of direct understanding of the importance of data maintenance, leading to potential malfunctions.

Innovation Solution

An interface unit interconnects the computing unit and data object component, allowing for segment relations based on keys or rules, enabling faster and more reliable access to segments without requiring individual assignments to be stored in the data object component, and allowing for the creation of new object classes through segmentation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If manual data maintenance is performed by human operators, then data can be updated, but reliability and efficiency deteriorate due to lack of understanding and potential malfunctions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata maintenance reliabilityVSAvoiddata maintenance efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs automatic data maintenance through the interface unit, which self-manages the assignment relationships between business objects and segments without requiring human operators. The computing unit automatically updates reference information when business data objects change, eliminating the need for manual intervention and ensuring both reliability and efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The interface unit establishes a feedback mechanism where changes to business data objects automatically trigger updates to reference information in the data object component. This closed-loop system ensures that data maintenance occurs reliably and efficiently by responding automatically to changes rather than relying on manual operator intervention.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Ease of operation

If pointer structures are stored in data object component for assignment relationships, then access to segments is enabled, but data volume and complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesegment access capabilityVSAvoiddata structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The interface unit extracts and manages the assignment logic separately from the data object component. Instead of storing complex pointer structures within the data object component, the interface unit handles the segmentation and assignment relationships, simplifying the data structure while maintaining full segment access capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The interface unit acts as an intermediary between the computing unit and the data object component. It manages the assignment relationships and segmentations without requiring complex pointer structures to be stored in the data object component itself, thereby reducing data structure complexity while enabling segment access.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Ease of operation

If individual assignments are stored in data object component, then specific segment access is enabled, but access speed decreases due to additional maintenance requirements

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespecific segment accessVSAvoiddata access speed
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The interface unit automatically manages assignment relationships through self-service mechanisms. When business data objects change, the system automatically updates the relevant segment assignments without requiring manual maintenance, enabling fast access to specific segments while maintaining accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary actions by maintaining assignment relationships automatically through the interface unit. This preliminary automation of data maintenance ensures that segment access information is always current without requiring manual intervention, thereby improving access speed while maintaining specific segment access capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS8027980B2Methods and computer systems for data assignment
Publication Date: 2011.09.27 SAP SE
  • US8027980B2 patent drawing
  • US8027980B2 patent drawing
  • US8027980B2 patent drawing

AI summary

Methods and computer systems are provided for data assignment. A computing unit and a data object component for managing a set of data objects are provided. Data objects of the set of data objects can be divided into segments according to selectable criteria. An interface unit may also be provided to interconnect the computing unit and the data object component. The interface unit may be arranged and constructed to include an inventory assignment of segments created in the data object component such that, in case of an assignment inquiry by the computing unit, an assignment of one or more segments being inquired for is carried out in the interface unit.